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Dôle Balavaud Grand Cru
Rating:
85.0000 % of 100
This is a very balanced and harmonious red wine that pairs well with white and red meats including dried and cured meats. Perfect example of Dôle.
| Features | Organic, Unoaked, Low Intervention, "Slow Wine", Vegetarian and Vegan |
|---|---|
| Style | Red, Still, Dry, Blend |
| Varieties |
|
More about
Dôle - a traditional Swiss blend which combines the elegance and body of Pinot Noir with the fruitiness and structure of Gamay.
Dôle is to Valais reds what Fendant is to white - a staple offering in the region. Skiers in the Valais are equally likely to have come across this wine as they are to have encountered Fendant.
If you're going to drink a red with Swiss melted cheese dishes like raclette or fondue, make it Dôle.
Wine Details
| Style | Red, Still, Dry, Blend |
|---|---|
| Winemaker | Cave Jean Rene Germanier |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Region | Valais |
| Features | Organic, Unoaked, Low Intervention, "Slow Wine", Vegetarian and Vegan |
| AOC | AOC Valais |
| Aged In | Steel |
| Closure | Natural Cork |
| Varieties | Dôle Blend, Gamay, Pinot Noir |
| Composition | Dôle Blend: Pinot Noir, Gamay |
| Ripeness | Normal |
| Winemaking | Low Added Sulphur, Malolactic |
Serving Suggestions
White or red meat and cheese.
Tasting Notes
Tasting Notes
The blend brings harmony and balance. It is very light red in colour. It has a complex nose of cherries, raspberries, strawberries and spices which also come through on the palate. Medium-bodied, smooth and easy drinking. The Pinot brings finesse and earthiness while the Gamay brings fruit and structure. This wine has complex fruit aromas and is rich with spicy notes with a long finish. It is an intriguing wine as it does not taste like a Pinot Noir or a Gamay. It has its own unique identity and the two grape varieties pair well.
Vintages
| Product Code | 41GR0318 |
|---|---|
| Size | 75cl |
| Alcohol | 12.5 |
| mature evolution? | No |
| Case Size | 6 |
| Closure | (not set yet) |
| In a nutshell | New vintage on the way |
| Product Code | 41GR0316 |
|---|---|
| Size | 75cl |
| Alcohol | 13 |
| Product Code | 4116017 |
|---|---|
| Size | 75cl |
| Alcohol | 12.5 |
| Product Code | 4113044 |
|---|---|
| Size | 75cl |
| Alcohol | 12.5 |
Bought Together
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Dôle is a well known Valaisian red wine, not a grape variety as such, rather a blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay (and occasionally with a very small percentage of other grapes). To qualify as Dôle, natural sugar levels in the constituent grapes must pass certain levels. However, within this simple definition there is a wide variety of offerings. The ratio of the two varieties varies from 51% Pinot Noir, 49% Gamay through to 100% Pinot Noir. Generally speaking, the wines with higher proportions of Pinot Noir are better and as we follow the river Rhône westwards towards Lake Geneva, the proportion of Pinot Noir gradually decreases. Also, since 1993 growers have been allowed to add 10% of other grape types. There is speculation as to whether this is a good thing with optimists contending that the addition of varieties such as Syrah will improve overall quality - time will tell. Dôle can vary in quality from a light insipid confected wine right through to lovely complex and long lasting examples - serious stuff indeed. The best examples are from the area around Chamoson and Sierre.
